Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-23
Valss and Sketthss.
UNDER ORDERS.
Continued from Yesterday

The young man had chosen the St.
Gothard route he had determined to avail
himself of his aunt's generosity, and to
linger over his journey in letter in
which he announced his plans to her he
spoke of an intention to spend a couple of
days at Lucerne, a few hours at Milan and
week in Venice, the town which, above
all others, appealed to his poetic fancy.
The lad reveled in his new experiences.
His fellow tourists caught something of
his enthusiasm; every day he made new
friends, who parted from him at night
with flattering reluctance. Not only did
the wonderful sights which met his eve
delight David; in his young freshness he
thoroughly enjoyed the importance of
ordering beds and meals or paying scores
at foreign inns.
At last Italy was reached at last Milan
lay like dream behind him, and one early
morning found lhim sleeping fitfully in a
railway carriage and nearing Venice. At
five O'Clock he awoke, rubbed his eyes,
opened the window and looked Gus. The
edge of handbag, which had very poorly
played the part of a pillow during the
short night had left proof of its INSULT
AiCUtN III lIlC VI VI DdNlu .
neck. The young man was sleepy and
cold; circumsta were not favorable to
his first impression of the approach to
Venice. 1t was with some sense of dreari-
ness that David found himself in waste
OF water. Before him, behind him. and
on either side, gray water sUecaed out,
to meet gray, cold morning SIX no LAM
= as visible. He was on the brilge-nine
miles long-which connects Venice with
he mainland. In q short time the forms
f towers and clustering houses began to
veal themselves against the horizon the
train whizzed on, and presently the city of
! the Adriatic lay, broad and clear, before
David's eyes,
The young man held his breath as he
gazed. But railway station is the last
place for sentmentalism, ard before the
platform OF the Venetian railway station
the train came, in a few minutes, to a
standstill Romance hasn't chance
against its arch enemy, steam" thought
David, as he jumped to the ground, mus
tered few words of stumbling Italian.
| embellished with French, and with their
aid placed himself under the protection of
porter, haired. we'll built fellow,
with face like an old Venetian picture.
The Englishman's registered luggage
was quickly collected and placed in gon-
dola; herd of loafers-ragged, pictur-
esque men and boys-swooped down upon
him as fair prey; one seized his umbrella
another bore off his Murray and his mac.
intosh; a third attempted-in spite OF
vigorous remonstrance-to relieve him oil
the light burden of small paper volume
of Howell's Venetian Life" which he
held in his hand. Before the station were
a number of gondolas, their proprietors
hailing passengers with deafening cries
of "Gondoli, Signori. Signori, gondoli
gondoli."
What does the Signore command p
asked hat in hand, David's gondolier, s
weather-beaten old Venetien, with the
manners of duke.
The 'Angleterre, "" returned David
with series of mods; he guessed thu
meaning OF the question. Mrs. Wiltol
had furnished him with list of hotel
worthy his patronage in the differen
towns in which he was to stay.
Soon David was gliding on, along tn,
Grand Canal, under the bridge of thu
Rialto, past the fruit market, with it
| wealth. VI Stapes anu H0AlHh oOoi"
world famed Gothic or Renaissance
palaces. He was in Venice at last-il
Venice the city of dreams, and the who'll
scene had come upon him so suddenl'
that he failed to grasp the reality of hi
surroundings.
All that day-after his luggage ha'
been deposited, and bedroom secured
at the 'Angleterre," on the Riva degl
Schiavoni-David spent in sightseeing
He wandered. half dazed with tn,
magnificence OF its beauty, up and dow
St. Marks. much pestered by assiduou
} guides, who, recognizing his nationality
addressed him in counterfeit of his owl
tongue; he visited the Doge's Palace
rambled through the galleries, and crossed
over the Bridge of Signs into the prison
he lost himself in the intricate street.
about the Mereeria, and he strolled alone
the Piazza of St. Mark, listening to the
afternoon band.
i 1t was with a sense of good days
work we'll done that he took his seat thai
evening at table d'hote, stihed hungry